Looking for a recommendation for a video convertor

[Nyk42]

I have some requirements and I'm finding it hard to find a video conversion program that will handle them.

1 - Batch select and convert. Be able to select all supported video files within a directory and have the option of recursing into subdirectories and choosing the video files there as well.

2 - Save the converted video to the same directory where the original was found. This is a big one and I've tried so many different programs and NONE of them will do this! They all want you to specify the "Output Directory" and save everything there! I don't want that. I want the converted video stored in the original location. If there's a naming conflict, append a 1, 2, 3 or whatever.

3 - Be fully configurable when defining the output format. In other words, if I want the output to be 560*304, let me do that! I don't want to be stuck with pre-defined default resolutions. If my player won't play it, let me discover that and work it out on my own. But not just resolution, audio channels, volume normalization, aspect ratio, format (of course), and everything else.

4 - And of course, what 90% of all the video convertors do well, support a multitude of input and output formats. But let me make tweaks to the output formats if I want to.

So, does anyone know of any video conversion application that will do all of this? Of course, Freeware, or at least free limited trial is preferred. But if I have to pay for it, that's fine too ... I would like to test it before purchasing if at all possible though.

[Selur]

regarding 1. :
Hybrid allows you to set filter by extension which files should be used and it allows you to drag&drop a folder which subfolder will also be scanned for input files. (It does not offer manual filtering of the input list)

regarding 2. :
Is covered by Hybirds Config->Path->Adjust 'Output path to source path' option.

regarding 3. :
if you configure it properly Hybrid allows you to enforce Resolution, output PAR,...

regarding 4.: Hybrid does support basically all input formats libav does (+ some more if some hidden options and tweaks are used), Hybrid does offer extensive settings to configure the output.

So, does anyone know of any video conversion application that will do all of this? Of course, Freeware, or at least free limited trial is preferred. But if I have to pay for it, that's fine too ... I would like to test it before purchasing if at all possible though.

Hybrid is free for personal use. (http://www.selur.de/licence)

=>
Pro:
1. Hybrid is able to do all what you want.
2. It's free, works on Windows/Mac OS X/Linux.
3. Hybrid has an extensive amount of options which allow a lot of tweaking/enforcing/automation
Con:
1. There's no guide for Hybrid and due to the extensive amount of options it's not really suited for unexperienced users.
2. Hybrid assumes the user knows and understands what he is doing.

-> If you try Hybrid and run into an unexpected problem, post into the Hybrid-thread.

Cu Selur

Ps.: Hybrid has a ton of tool-tips which often help to understand stuff, to easier read them I would recommend to enable: "Config->View->Design->Show tooltip sidebar". I also would recommend to may be read some of the [Info]-threads over at http://forum.selur.de/forum2-general-hybrid-infos.html, especially the 'About profiles and saving settings,....'-thread.